Lubricating mechanism



May 7, 1929. o. u. ZERK.

LUBRICATING MECHANISM Original Filed May 29',

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

fM M

A TTORNEYfi May 7, 1929. o. u. ZERK 1,711,871

LUBRICATING MECHANISM Original Filed May 29. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W1 40 @lm r I IINVENTOR. v j (em/v zw w 5M4 Tuba A TTORNEYS accumulates therein to suchv an extent that I Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFI OSCAR ULYSSES ZERK, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'ASSIGNOR, BY IV IESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO ALEMITE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A 003.

IPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LUBRIGATING mEoIIAnIsM'.

Original application filed May 29, 1922, SeriaiNo.

3, 1924. Serial No. 684,168.

wear ng parts of machinery, by means of a pressure or grease gun, which is connected with the parts to which lubricant is to be sup plied, by means of a detachable coupling.

In devices of this character heretofore employed, a self-sealing leather gasket which seals the joint between the coupling members, has been necessarily employed. Such a gasketis found, however, to be a source of'muc-h trouble and annoyance, and particularly in the case of automobile lubrication, inasmuch as grit and dust from the street accumulates on the coupling nipples and, when through carelessness it is not removed, is transferred onto the gasket in which it embeds itself and soon i the gasket loses its efiiciency as a self-sealing, snug fitting and yleldlng element, which results in leakage, loss of lubricant and the attendant annoyances, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, impurities in the lubricant such as metal filings or chips likewise become embedded in the gasket with similar results.

The objects of my invention are:

First, the elimination of the heretofore used leather gasket without sacrificing non-leaking qualities,

Second, the elimination of wear on the coupling member which is attached to the pressure gun.

Third, an arrangement and-form of parts whereby the accurate seating of the couphng members may be effected readily and easily.

Fourth, the provision of simple and effective means whereby the coupling members may be connected by a powerful olnt with a minimum of manual labor.

The first of these objects is attained by providing a contact surface on the one coupling member of comparatively very small annular area which en ages a co-operatlng contact surface on the other member, and providing a cavity or chamber adjacent thereto and exteriorly of such first named member, where by obstructions such as grit and dirt will be expelled from between these surfaces either into the members central duct or into such cavity or chamber in which latter they may accumulate and later be removed.

The second of these objects is attained by maklng the seating surface of the coupling member of the gun very much harderthan that of the other member, This is important 1n automobile lubrication wherein a large number of nipples is used, usually from 25 to 75. Th1s means that the coupling on the gun is used from 25 to 7 5 times as often as the nipples areused and that the wear on such gun "toppling contact surface is correspondlngly greater. By making this latter conphng surface of extreme hardness, the tendency to Wear as a result of such frequent use 1s compensated for.

The third object is attained by making the contact surfaces of the couplings conical or valve-like in form, whereby the parts hecome self-centering.

The fourth object is attained by hardening the contact surfaces of the. sliding parts of the means which are used to hold the coupnng members together.

The construction lends itself most advantageously to the employment of all-metal contact surfaces in the coupling members.

The said invention consists of means herematter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying the invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one'of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied. This application is a division of my copending appigcation, Serial No. 564,284, filed May 29,

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an axial section of the lower end of. a pressure or grease gun embodying my invention, parts beingshown in elevation, shown in full or actual size.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged axial section of the coupling end of the gun, a fragment of the mechanism to be lubricated, together with .upon the plane indicated by a nipple attached to said mechanism, showing the parts in partially detached position and twice actual size.

Fig. 3 represents the parts shown in Fig. 2, clamped or joined together. i

Fig. 4 represents a transverse section taken iipon the plane indicated by line IV--IV,

Fig. 5 represents a transverse section taken upon the plane indicated by line V V, Fig. 3. 1 i

Fig. 6 represents a transverse section taken upon the plane indicated by line VI-VI,

k Fig. 7 represents a transverse section taken line VIIVII, Fig. 3.

Figs. 8 to inclusive are fragmentary sec tional views four times the actual size of the device, illustrating various forms of contact surfaces embodying certain principles of my invention. I j

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the

' illustrated embodiment of my invention includes a cylinder or barrel 1, Fig. 1, in which there is a piston 2 actuated to move in the barrel by a screw-stem 3, suitably mounted on the top of the barrel (not shown). The stem?s lower end is secured to a disk 4 which travels in an inner cylinder 5 against a coil spring 6 mounted therein.

' The lower part of the barrel is provided with the outlet duct 7 and is screwed into a body member 8 at an angle preferably of about 45. This body member is provided with aduct 9 which communicates with 9. cylindrical bore 10 also formed on thisbody member as shown. A fibre check valve 11 controls the communication between duct 9 and the barrel 1, permitting the lubricant to pass from the cylinder to the duct but preventing the opposite movement thereof.

Bole 10 is of considerably smaller diameter than the interior of barrel 1, and is threaded throughout, as shown.

A stem 12 is mounted in said bore andhas a threaded portion 13 engaging'the threads 14 of the bore. The lower end of the stem is formed with a needle valve 15 which is adapted to close the upper end of the duct 18 in coupling member 19 which is screwed into the lower end of said bore 10. The'stem 12' is suitably packed and provided with the handle20 for manual operation. a

Said construction operates as follows: Lubricant is supplied to the interior of barrel 1 in any suitable manner. Needle valve 15 is caused to close duct 18. Stem 3 is then caused to move the piston 2 downwardly against the lubricant and compress 1t-1nto the bottom of'the barrel, past the check valve pressed as far as it can be.

The coupling member 19 is then attached to a nipple, in a manner hereinafter described,

whereupon the stem 12 is turned to open duct .18, which allows the compressed lubricant to flow through the coupling and to the mechanism 21 which it is desired to lubricate. The coil spring 6 causes piston 2 to follow the lubricant as the pressure is released, thushsupplying continued pressure which insures an adequate supply of lubricant to the point desired.

If it be desired to supply the lubricant under still greater pressure, the stem 12 may be screwed upwardly a suitable distance and thebore 10 supplied with additional lubricant from the barrel 1. By now screwing the stem 12 down upon such lubricant, it acts as a piston and forces the lubricant through the coupling, valve ll preventing return flow into the barrel. By selecting a small diameter for bore 10, and a small pitch for threads 14 it will be seen that an enormous pressure may be exerted by this auxiliary pressure device upon the lubricant and the latter forced to flow against great resistance. This is advantageous when there is some obstruction to the flow. pressure of 10,000 lbs. per square inch may be readily attained by manual operation of the stem 12.

The coupling member .19 is provided with a hexagonal upper guiding portion 22, Fig.

1, and a cylindrical lower portion 23 through which extends the central duct 18 restricted at 24. The lower 'end portion of the latter is cylindrically enlarged as at 25 and formed with the conical seating surface 26. Portion 23 is formed with a circumferential groove 27 in which is seated an elastic ring 28. This ring presses outwardly against the upper ends of three oscillatory annular segmental jaws 29 which are fulcrumed in a circumferential groove 30, Fig. 2. The lower ends of these jaws are bent inwardly and form wedge sur-' faces 31. x

'A sleeve 32 surrounds these jaws and is provided with an upper flange 33 which forms means for manually actuating the sleeve. Lugs 34 engage lateral surfaces of the guiding portion 22 and center the sleeve, see Fig. 4; 1

The nipple 35, which is, attached to the mechanism 21, is provided with a flange 36 forming a lower conicalwedge surface 37,

which may be engaged bythe wedge surfaces J 31 of the jaws. The upper end of the nipple is provided with 'the conical .seatingor contact surface .38, hereinafter more fully described.

The described parts are so designed that when the sleeve 32 is pulled up, as shown in Fig. 2, the jaws may open suflicientlyto allow the lower ends thereof to slip over flange 36, .Fig. 2. In this position the ring 28 exerts at all times enough pressure upon the upper ends of the jaws to set up sufiicient I have found in practice that a friction between the jaws and sleeve to hold the latter in this suspended position thus facilitating the act of engagement of the parts by rendering it unnecessary to hold the sleeve up by hand.

' The parts are further so designed that when the seating surfaces 26 and 38 are incontact, wedge surfaces 31 and 37 may engage each other,but in such a manner that the jaws will be outwardly inclined, that is present a conicalexterior surface of greater major diameter than the inner diameter of sleeve 32, as shown in Fig. 3. Downward pressure upon the sleeve 32 will hence exert a wedging action upon the jaws and increase-- the intimacy of contact of surfaces 31 and 37 and hence the intimacy of the engagement of the seating surfaces26 and 38. It will be seen that the angularity of these surfaces 31 and 37 and the angularity of the conical wedge surface presented by the exterior of the jaws may be made such that a very 1 powerful force may be exerted upon the surfaces 26-and 38 and effect a tight and leakproof j oint. So great may be this force that I have found in practice it may be made as high as 20,000 lbs. per square inch on the small contacting surface used. To increase the facility for obtaining this force I caseharden the sleeve 32 and the jaws 29, which greatly reduces the frictional resistance between the exterior surface of the jaws 29 and i the interior surface of the sleeve and forms an important factor in obtaining this great pressure.

It will also be noted that no part of the member 19 intervenes between the opposite ends of the jaws and the flange 33 so that the entire space between the flange and jaws is available for the travel of the sleeve. When the device is constructed, however, the relation of the jaws and sleeve is such that when the jaws occupy their clamping position of greatest effectiveness, the sleeve flange 33 will not engage the upper ends of the jaws. This allows the sleeve to be pushed on down further as the parts wear from continued use. This feature of the construction allows the sleeve to operate in a field of maximum efl'ectiveness,'since the further away from the fulcrumvof the jaws, the sleeve engages them, the greater will be the power exerted. I

As'shown in Figs.- 2, 3 and 10, the upper end of the male coupling member or nipple 35, is cut away on the outside, adjacent to the contact surface 26 which forms a cavity or chamber 40 between said member 35 and the member 19, as shown. The design is such that the width of'the surface 26 is very small so as to impart a relativelysmall area make it even as small as By giving this surface such relatively small area, the amount of superficial contact between the two surfaces is so small that any obstructions in the nature of dirt, grit, etc. which may intervene when contact is made,

are moved laterally and discharged either into the duct 41 of the member 35 or into thecavity or chamber 40. The size of the latter is such as to permit a considerable accumulation therein.

It will also be noted that the seating or contact surfaces are conical or valve-like, which permits the male and female coupling members to be self-centering. 1 As previously mentioned, the female coupling member 19 is subjected to much greater use than is the male member 35 and in conse member 19 of cold rolled or carbon steel and.

the'member 35 of brass; by making member 19 of cold rolled steel and providing an end insert 42, at the top of member35, Fig. 15, of a softer material such as tin, zinc, aluminum or hard fibre.

In allthese instances, it will be seen that the contact surface of the female member is of markedly greater hardness than the contact surface of the male member, which compensates for the increased dutyto which said female member is subjected and insures a long life thereto. 7

The specific form of the contacting surfaces of the male and female members may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 11, 12,

13 and 14.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a form in which the entire top of member 35 is made conical but of an angularity different from that of the conical surface 38 so that a line contact is effected.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the upper end of member 35 slightly convex so as also to pro-- vide a line contact. t

'.In Fig. 11 I have shown the topsquared,

which also produces a line contact.

In the form shown in Fig. 12, the conical surfaces are dispensed with and square 'contact surfaces are provided, that of the male member being as before of relatively small area.

ingly greater.

Fig. 13 shows a form similar to that illus-' the dirt or grit expressed outwardly from be-.

' tween the two members.

What I claim is: n 1. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a container, a'

first compressing means in said container, an outlet from said contalner, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond sald check valve and rigidly carried by said container, and unitary means in said conduit for controlling the flow or for varying the volume of said conduit to make it pump to a higher pressure at the will of the operator.

a check valve and rigidly carried by said con-.

2. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a container, a first compressing means in said container, an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said check valve andrigidly carried by said container, and a second-high pressure compressing means connected to said conduit, said second compressing means closing said conduit at one end of its stroke.

3. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a'container, a first compressing means in said container, an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said tainer, and a second high pressure-compress-' ing means closing said'conduit, said second compressing means closing said. conduit at the pressure end of its stroke.

4;. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a container, a compressing means in said container, an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said check valve and rigidly carried by said container, and a manually control-led valve and booster in said conduit, said compressing means including a connection for storing energy to continue pressure during discharge.

' 5. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a container, a first compressing means in said container, an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said check valve and rigidly carried by said container, and unitary means in said conduit for controlling the flow or for varying the volume of said conduit to make it pump to a higher pressure at the will of the operator, said first compressing means including 'a resilient means tensioned by the pressure developed, for'e xpanding during discharge and maintaining pressure by such expansion.

6. A lubricant compressor comprising'a portable unitary device having a container,

afirst compressing means in said container, an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said check valve and rigidly carried by said container, and a second high pressure compressing means connectedto said conduit, said second compressing means closing said conduit at one end of its stroke, said first compressing means including a resilient means tensioned by the pressure developed, for expanding during discharge and maintaining pressure by such expansion.

7. A lubricant compressor comprising 'a portable unitary device having a container, a first compressing means in said container,

an outlet from said container, a reverse check valve in said outlet, a conduit beyond said check valve and rigidly carried by said container, and a second high pressure compressing means closing said conduit, said second compressing means closing said conduit at the pressure end of its stroke, said first compressing means including a resilient means tensioned by the pressure developed, for expanding during discharge and maintaining pressure by such expansion. 1

8. A lubricant compressor .comprising'a portable unitary device having a container, a firsFcbmpressing means in said container, a

check valve controlling the discharge from preventing the head being forced out ofthe hollow plunger by the power spring, and means for moving the head for compressing the power spring, substantially as described.

10. In a lubricating apparatus, a cylinder adapted to contain lu ricant, lubricant ejecting means associated with the cylinder, a delivery bi anch for lubricant connected with the cylinder and extending in angular rela-' tion thereto, saiddelivery branch having a lubric'ant outlet at one end and a handle carried by the delivery branch opposite the lubricant outlet, the lubricant containing cylinder being connected with the delivery branch at 'a pointintermediate the handle and the lubricant outlet.

.11. A lubricant compressor comprising a portable unitary device having a low pressure cylinder, a high pressure cylinder fed therefrom and rigidly held at anangle thereto,apiston movably mounted in said low prespressure cylinder and serving as a valveto sure cylinder, a member movable relatively control communication between said low to said piston, spring means between said pressure cylinder and a bearing to be lubri- 10 piston and said member, means for advancing cate'd.

5 said member relatively to said piston and said In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my reservoir and against the force of said spring signature this 29th day of December, 1923. means, and a plunger movable in said high I OSCAR ULYSSES ZERK. 

